The Great Old Hotels

Corona Hotel

This sign for the Corona Hotel still hangs above the door of the alley entrance to the tavern. The Corona was always a hopping place because there were regular dances held in the Ballroom every Wednesday and Saturday. Between 1960 and 1964 the residency in the Ballroom was held by the Derheim Brothers Band and then by Art and Emma Heckenliable through 1966. Liquor was not served in the ballroom but there was always a steady stream of people going from the ballroom to the bar for a refreshment and then returning for some more dancing.

Cecil Hotel

The Cecil Hotel still has the original 1960’s sign on it’s roof. There was always big pedestrian traffic between the Cecil and the Corona on a Friday or Saturday night and there was never a shortage of fights . In 1966 a glass of draft, controlled by the Alberta Liquor Control Board would cost about 15 cents.

Assiniboia Hotel

The Assiniboia Hotel on 3rd Street, owned by the Cantalini family, opened in the early 50s and was state of the art for its day. When music was introduced to bars in 1965?? bands would play in the Ladies and Escorts side of the L shaped bar and if a man was not in the company of a lady he would not be allowed to sit in that section of the bar. Sadly the building has , for the most part, fallen into ruin with the exception of the iconic sign.

Park Lane Hotel

The Park Lane Hotel was the new kid on the block and was built in the late 50s??. It was the first bar to have live music when it became legal to do so with Elgin Mann being the first act to play in the tavern. In the late 60s into the 70s the dining room also featured travelling acts like the Allen Sisters, Marg Osborne, Al Cherny and Tommy Common to name a few.

Royal Hotel

The Royal Hotel in all it’s splendor. The venerable old joint has offered live music every week since 1965 and for 30 years it has played host to a Saturday afternoon jam session that offers a venue for local players to show off their latest licks at whatever volume they choose. One of the better known alumni of the Royal is Terri Clark.